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USB-C

Alan wants to know if all USB-C cables are created equal. Leo says they aren't. In fact, some cheaper models may end up bricking his phone! So he'll have to be careful. Type C cables are better built, and they also transfer data. In the end, he'll get what he pays for. Leo recommends braided cables. They last a lot longer and are about $10. Leo likes Anker. Alan should follow Benson Leung. He is really into testing cables.

Mike is looking for a dock for his MacBook Pro since it only has the one USB-C connector. Leo says that he uses one from Other World Computing. Apple has confused everything with USB-C because it can connect to Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3, and it really doesn't specify what works and what doesn't. On top of that, there's only one port.

David bought a new HP convertible laptop, and HP has made it so he can't use third party charging systems through the USB C port. Leo says that's anticompetitive, and HP is one of the few companies that does it. It just makes people angry that they are locked into using proprietary accessories with a standard open source port.

Leo suspects that maybe it's just an issue of needing more wattage since he can charge with it while the computer is turned off.

Mike is a writer who uses an old 17" MacBook Pro and it's just running too loud and slow now. He needs to get a new laptop. Leo says the new crop of laptops are faster and quieter. The new MacBook Pro is a good option, but Leo loves the Microsoft Surface Book as well.

Rowan wonders if USB thumb drives are becoming obsolete like so many other data drives before it. Leo says that no format will last forever, but there's still plenty of life left in USB. We need to keep an eye on how technology progresses and transfer the data over when the time comes, though. Rowan will likely be able to get an adapter for USB-C, which is the current standard. The other thing he can do is use an open source backup, like TAR, which will make the backup easily transferrable. The best way is to go into the cloud, though. He should have both.

Leo's been using the new Google Pixel C tablet, and has some thoughts on it. The screen is nice, but the sound isn't great. It is about the size of a traditional iPad, with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It has the new USB-C connector, which Leo really likes. You can also pick up a metal keyboard for it, which allows you to treat it as a laptop that runs Android.

Because of it's new USB-C adapter working as the sole connector for both power and data, Apple fans are upset with the new MacBook. One reason people are upset is that to use anything else, you'd have to pay an additional $79 for a dongle.

Still, it offers a 9 hour battery life, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD drive. But it's $1300, so it's not cheap. It's also lighter than a MacBook Air. Could the Air be not be long for this world? Leo says he likes the USB-C option and offers props to Apple for advancing the technology. But he's keeping his powder dry before he buys it.

Apple announced a redesigned new MacBook on Monday March 9. It's just 13.1 millimeters thin, weighs 2 pounds, and has a 12 inch Retina display. It also has just one connector -- USB-C, which very well might be the future for all computers. That single connector can charge the MacBook, provides data transfer, and video output.